Cumberland County College student Katelyn Whitesall, left, helps first grade student Skky Santiago during class. College students are participating in a MLK Service program.

VINELAND — Cumberland County College’s commitment to community service manifested itself at locations across the county this week, in honor of the legacy and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Over 150 volunteers, including students, faculty and administrative staff, turned out for the tenth annual installment of the college’s Martin Luther King Service Days program.

Volunteers donated their time and efforts to a number of local institutions, including schools, soup kitchens, food pantries, even the Cohanzick Zoo, this past Thursday and Friday.

Mennies School in Vineland has hosted MLK service programs for the past three years. Students from the college, along with program coordinator and creator, Kellie W. Slade, were on location helping students with math problems, reading them stories, playing kickball and working in small groups around a variety of academic pursuits.

The MLK Service Days program is about engaging Cumberland County College students in community partnership and encouraging them to give back.

“We try and teach our students to look beyond themselves,” Slade explained. “Our plans for the future of CCC include service learning and an emphasis on leadership. The Martin Luther King service days are a way to give back to the community in honor of a great leader.”

First year pre-nursing student, Katelyn Whitesall, was enthusiastic about her first community service experience.

“It’s awesome. I’ve had a lot of fun interacting with the kids and hearing them call me Ms. Katelyn,” she said.

A member of the CCC Student Senate and Student Pathways Leadership Institute (SPLI), Katelyn is a perfect example of the new generation of community college student: enthusiastic about service and fostering cooperative partnerships between the college and the larger community.

The Student Senate, SPLI and the college’s sports teams are among the leading student organizations that make the MLK Service Days program possible.

Second year early childhood education major Krystal Fidler and first year student Chris-Anne Snyder were engaged with a group of second graders, working on math problems in small groups.

Both women were enthusiastic in their support of the program and excited about the prospect of such programs becoming a normal part of the college experience.

“This is a great opportunity for students to come out and do their first community service project,” Snyder said. “Hopefully some of them get hooked and come out for more. We really want to engage anyone to come and get involved in their community.”

Community service and student engagement are fundamental in Cumberland County College’s plans for the future.

Next month, the college will introduce its 2012-2017 Strategic Vision, a five-year initiative that, among other things, stresses the importance of community service, both for its own merit and in developing leadership skills.

Under the plan, the college would expand service learning programs and require students to engage in community service activities across a wide spectrum of curricula. Public Relations Director John Nichols explained the plan.

“The service would be linked to a student’s course of study, and could take the form of an internship or volunteer work. Social Services majors, for example, might perform their service at an outreach center,” Nichols said.

Beyond the academic and practical benefits for students, the college sees service learning as a way to give back to the community and to inspire students to serve the greater good.

“The college has been here for over 40 years and the community has always been very supportive. This is a way for us to give back and show appreciation for that support,” Nichols explained.